Am…musings

The seventh leg of “the year of traveling to see important people I haven’t visited in a ridiculous amount of time” (a.k.a. the trips I’ve been meaning to take and finally did) commences tomorrow.

Here’s the history:
• The year started in Phoenix with college friend Aaron and his wife Jen. Last time I was there: 2003 … I think.
• I drove from Phoenix to L.A. to see Disney friend Scott. I don’t think I’d seen him since 1994-ish.
• Bean-town and Disney friend Nicole were the next stop. She moved there from Orlando in 2000-ish and I had never visited her there … or seen her since then for that matter.
• Up next: across the border to Alberta, Canada to visit my high school friend Chrissie (and the cute Canadian men!). She moved west (Canada, Seattle, then Canada again) after college in the mid ‘90s and I had never been to see her.
• I flew from Canada to Charlotte to spend time with Disney friend and roommate Natalie and her family. I hadn’t been to visit her since 2000.
• Chicago sort of counts … Nicole ran in the marathon and in an effort to make sure it wasn’t another eight years before I saw her again (sheesh!) I drove up to hang out

Tomorrow I’m headed to Dallas to visit my cousin. I’m an only child and we were like sisters as kids … weekend sleepovers, summer vacations, the same Christmas presents every year (right down to the same color and style roller skates and 10-speeds … it was the ‘70s!). Unfortunately, as we grew up, we grew apart. And then because of her move to Dallas, a little family drama and the general bustle of life, we haven’t seen each other since 1990 or so. I blogged about my mom’s wonderful theory on old friends after my visits with Chrissie and Natalie … I’m hopeful my cousin and I will prove her right once again.

As the holidays approach, I start keeping an eye on the dairy case. If you like eggnog, but avoid it because of the calories, cholesterol and fat, I’ve got two words for you … soy nog.

½ c. eggnog
Calories 230
Fat 12 g
Sat. Fat. 7 g
Cholesterol 65 mg
Total Carb. 28 g

½ c. Silk Soymilk Nog
Calories 90
Fat 2 g
Sat. Fat. 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Total Carb. 15 g

Eggnog purist may not love it, but the flavor and creaminess make me happy … and it’s been so long since I’ve had the real thing I don’t really remember what I’m missing. As with many beverages, it’s pretty much empty calories, but it’s great as an occasional treat during the holiday season. Oddly, I’m enjoying a glass now with some edamame. It’s a soy-tastic day for me!

I did a crazy thing today and it was a repeat performance. When I decided to blog about it, it struck me … I blogged about the first go-round, and the context of that post has me feeling silly for deciding to do this thing again.

Enough with the beating around the bush … I got my nose pierced (or I guess re-pierced). A few months ago I blamed the first piercing on a semi-midlife crisis. Hmmm. Now I feel the need to justify the recent decision.

As I said in the earlier post, I’ve always thought it was beautiful (again, I think because of my second grade friend Chowdry Pinnameneni’s mom). I removed the first ring about six months after I got it mostly to please a few conservative people in my life who didn’t really approve. Yet even when I took it out, I always thought I might do it again. I even saved my little silver stud (thankfully so, because it saved me $25 today … body piercings are not cheap!). A few changes in my life have left me worrying a little less about those conservative folks and I said bring on the big needle (all joking aside … if you have a problem with needles, this probably is not the procedure for you).

I just wish I hadn’t been so negative about it in my earlier post. I don’t feel midlife-crisis-y now, but looking back at today’s decision, I may have subconsciously been concerned. Because I need lots of information to make decisions, I did a survey of a few folks – ok a few guys (I know a couple – my dad included – who find it gross and wondered if more men felt that way) – and I did ask two of them if I was getting too old to pull it off. Not that I imagine either of them would have told me the truth even if they thought I was!

Now that fall is here, I can add straight back into my hair repertoire. I learned long ago that I could spend a fair amount of time straightening my locks in the summer, but the minute I stepped outside, the humidity would undo my efforts, magically (and frustratingly) creating ringlets no matter how straight my do had been.

Although the weather is cooperating now, I have a little problem … I’m without a good straightening product. I have lots of hair, but it’s very fine and most products weigh it down. Also, I don’t want poker straight, which I think looks best on thick manes. I need bounce and body with my straight.

Any recommendations?

BTW, for curly dos, I recommend Aveda’s Be Curly mixed with a pea-sized amount of their Deep Penetrating Hair Revitalizer, which is conditioner, but works great for keeping my locks moisturized and frizz-free.

My friend Jenny was gushing about a book. She admitted it was a teen romance, but she couldn’t stop saying how great it was. “Do you want to borrow it?” she excitedly asked. A teen romance … ummm. I read and enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, but a teen romance seemed a little pathetic. Ultimately, I justified it because it’s about vampires and … vampires are hot.

The book is Twilight. At the time I hadn’t heard of it, but with the movie coming out in a week, it’s everywhere and I’ve noticed the book in unexpected places, like Marshall’s, where I was returning some shoes Thursday.

I’m about halfway through. It’s well-written and very engaging and entertaining. Plus, it’s a quick read. I prefer my romances a little racier (a taste I developed as a teen when my mom let me read books I probably shouldn’t have … I was a voracious reader and when I’d exhausted the school lists, Shar would pass her trashy, sexy Danielle Steele novels along), but for a teen book Twilight is surprisingly romantic … and tales of forbidden love are always a little saucy. Not to mention, the vampire uncharacteristically doesn’t want to kill humans, instead he uses his superhuman skills to save the heroine’s life. A superhero with a neck fetish … it doesn’t get much hotttttter than that.

It was a breakfast showdown this morning between oatmeal and cinnamon rolls … ah, just kidding QT! No, between oatmeal and an egg white sandwich (it is miserably damp, windy and cold here … perfect for oatmeal, but the egg protein was calling me). Then I remembered an egg white oatmeal recipe I’d read some where. At the time, it had sounded disgusting, but I thought what the heck.

I made oatmeal with milk according to the directions. When the oatmeal was done, I left the heat on medium-low and slowly added two egg whites, stirring constantly (I didn’t use a whisk, but will try that next time) and let it cook until I could see the whites turning … well, white.

It was yummy … rich and creamy (I was worried the egg might make it rubbery). I didn’t try it plain, but imagine it does require some toppings. I added brown sugar and walnuts (I normally add some sort of “butter” spread, but forgot and didn’t even miss it with the richness of the egg). Also, I may not need to eat again today. Take that QT!

P.S. I recommend eating this quickly while it’s still hot. I wrote this post while noshing and near the bottom, it became much less appealing.

I received a new Myspace message from one of my former foster dogs last week. Yes, I said Myspace message from a foster dog. Her new parents created a page for her when she was a puppy … look at that face.

I love it because it’s fun and creative … and I get to stay up to speed on her with the photos and updates her Mom and Dad post fairly regularly.

It’s been almost a year since I fostered her and her sister (they were my very first Stray Rescue fosters that I foolishly took in a week before Christmas). I’m proud to see she’s grown into a beautiful girl. And if I may say so, she looks like quite the bad ass … at least here.

Maybe not so much here (even though she does look a little pissed).

I stopped to get gas on my way back from a meeting this morning. $33.82!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipee!!!!!!! I bought my gas-guzzler in early, early 2005 … before gas went completely haywire. Until recently my damage at the pump was around $65. Today was the first time I’ve filled up since prices plummeted. Fabulous!

I celebrated with a trip through Mickey D’s for … an iced tea. Yes, it still has caffeine, but it was not a Diet Coke. I can’t remember the last time I went to McDonald’s and didn’t get a Diet Coke. And I switched to water when I got to the office … Mission Diet Coke-Free: Accomplished (at least for today).

I’m ashamed to admit I’m not quite the A student when it comes to cutting caffeine. I did sort of hastily jump into the endeavor without thinking it through properly in terms of withdrawal symptoms. It’s a little hectic at work … not a time for headaches, forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating. I also have a personal thing that’s making me sufficiently pissy. And with the shorter days of fall, I’m tired and a little depressed enough already. I realize these are excuses, but even if they are psychosomatic … they are still impeding my success.

In my defense … my priority for cutting caffeine was eliminating the Diet Coke and I have gotten down to one a day instead of two to three (with the exception of Saturday when I needed the energy for cheering for my Missouri Tigers … plus my drink of choice IS rum and Diet Coke and I had to drink with the college friends in Columbia!).

I’m shooting for only coffee (noooooo Diet Cokes by the end of the week – Sunday counts on that, right?). I’ll keep you posted.

On my way home tonight I passed a Quick Trip billboard sporting two large cinnamon rolls and the slogan … “Life’s Too Short for Oatmeal.”

Seriously QT?

According to this Wikipedia article on obesity in America, 64 percent of American adults are overweight or obese. More than 20 million people over the age of 20 have diabetes and more than 200,000 people die from it each year. Plus, nearly one million people die of heart attacks or other cardiovascular illness, including stroke, every year.

I, not surprisingly, can’t find any nutritional facts for the delights at QT online, but on the billboard the pastries appeared to be about the size of a large Pillsbury rolls. Counting both of them, here is the considerable damage:
* 640 calories
* 20 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat)
* 44 grams of sugars

Life will definitely be too short with regular breakfasts like that. I say bring on the oatmeal (and fire the advertising genius that came up with that ridiculous billboard).